Educational apparatus



March 14, 1961 H. J. SCHLAFLY EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 4, 1955 INVENTOR Huben` J. Schlofly March 14, 1961 H. J.scHLAl-"LY EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1955 ninT=T INVENTOR Huber? J. Schlofly BY f 'Mn/t1' ATTOTP? Uld States .Patent1 Claim. (Cl. 317-137) N.Y., assignor to Teleprompter New York, N.Y., acorporation of New vThis invention relates to educational apparatus, andmore particularly to apparatus associable with a script display devicewhich presents to a speaker the material to be ldelivered by him, theapparatus of the invention providing for the actuation by such a Vdevicein chosen sequence of one or more auxiliary electrically controlleddisplays or cues.l

Thus for example the apparatus of the present invention makes possible,as automatic accompaniments to the presentation to a speaker of thematerial to be delivered by him on a traveling tape or band, ltheturning on or oft or fading up or down of lights, the starting orstopping of recorded music or other sound effects, the operation of aslide or iilm projector, and the like, at successive phases of thematerial to be delivered which may be selected and changed at willwithout rerecording of that material.

The apparatus of the invention is advantageously embodied in a unitarycontrol unit for use as part of a script display system under control ofsignals originating in Va script display device at switching elementsactuated by the passage of the script carrier.

In the accompanying drawings Figs. l-3 illustrate one embodiment `ofsuch a control unit in plan, front elevation, and rear elevation viewsrespectively;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the control unit of Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation View of a script display deviceincorporating switching elements for cooperation with the apparatus ofFigs. l-4; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating one configuration of the control unitof Figs. 1-4 `for a typical operation.

As illustrated in Figs. 1-3 the control unit comprises a chassis 2surmounted by a terminal board 4 on which interconnections between thevarious elements of the control unit are made by means of patch cords,as will be presently described. As indicated in Fig. 2 the board 4 isspaced from the chassis by means of spacers 6, and the space between thechassis and terminal board is employed to position certain of the relaysand other electrical components of the control unit. In the embodimentillustrated in the drawings,.particularly as Vseen in Fig. 2, a

'plurality of grid controlled gas rectifier Ktubes 8 are provided, onefor each of the separate display control or cueing circuits of thecontrol unit. The tube 10 seen in Fig. 2 is a thermal time delay relayconnected in the common plate supply of the tubes 8. The unit includes aplurality of output circuits to which connection of external loads inthe form of cue or display devices can be made at connectors 12 seen inthe rear elevational View of Fig. 3. The interrelation of these outputcircuits with the remainder of the apparatus is controlled by patchcords and by a plurality of three-position toggle switches 14 seen inFig. 2, one such switch being associated with each output circuit. Powerfor the operation of the control unit and optionally of the loadcircuits controlled thereby is supplied at a power cord 16 (Fig. 3), anda multiterminal connector 18 connects the control unit via a plug and`cable 19 with the device, Itypically a script display device, fromwhich signals for operation of the control unit are taken. The controlunit may be provided with a push button switch 15 which when pressedcancels energization of all cue circuit control relays of the unit andwith an indicator light 17 which indicates operation of time delay relay10 and consequent application of plate voltage to the tubes 8. A switch5 controls the application of power from cord 16 to the control unit.

in Fig. 5 there is shown a front elevational view, partly broken away,of a script display device modified in accordance with the presentinvention for actuation of the control unit of Figs. 1-3. This devicemay be of the general type shown in my copending application Serial No.220,506, now Patent No. 2,765,552. It includes a housing 20 within whicha script carrier 22, in the form of a strip-like sheet of paper or thelike, is advanced from supply to take-up rolls within the housing byremotely controlled apparatus not forming part of the present invention.An aperture 24 in the housing 20 `discloses a portion of the sheet 22for observation by the performer or speaker whose script is presented tohim by the unit of Fig. 5, a marker 26 being advantageously provided toindicate the line of script instantaneously intended to be read from theunit. Adjacent one edge of the aperture 24 or elsewhere within thehousing adjacent the portion ofthe strip 22 between the supply andtake-up rolls there is provided a support in the form of a bar 28extending crosswise of the sheet 22. The bar 28 supports one or moresets 3l) of contacts for the supply of signals to the control unit ofFigs. l3.

In Fig. 5 two such sets are shown, identified generally at 30 and 30.Advantageously, each set includes three brushes, which may for exampletake the form of phosphor bronze springs mounted on bar 28 to bearagainst the sheet 22. Brushes 32 and 34 are connected together to acircuit common to the similarly located brushes 32 and 34 of the othersets of contacts, this circuit being most conveniently provided by thechassis of the script display unit of Fig. 5 which is connected viacable 19 to the chassis of the control unit of Fig. l and optionally toa building ground through one of the power cables which supplies thecomplete system. `In each set of contacts 30 a middle brush 36 .isinsulated from ground and from the other brushes 32 and 34 and leadsthrough a separate conductor of the cable 19 to a terminal in connector18 of the control unit. This terminal thus serves as a signal inputterminal to the control unit for o ne set of contacts 3G. In Fig. 4 thesignal input terminals associated with contacts 39 and 30 are identifiedat 38 and 38 respectively.

The middle brush 36 in each set is short-circuited to its associatedbrushes 32 and 34 by a conductive discontinuity in the insulating papersheet 22, applied at a desired time phase of the intelligence written orprinted onto the sheet 22. For this purpose use is advantageously madeof conductive strips 23, for example of aluminum foil backed withadhesive material which permits their afiixation to the sheet. In Fig. 5two such strips are shown, one just about to pass under the brushes ofthe contact set 30 with the upward motion of the sheet. Another suchstrip identified at 23 is located transversely of the sheet foractuation of the contacts 30 and is positioned lengthwise of the Sheetat the lower edgeof the aperture 24.

While two grounded brushes 32 and 34 may be provided to give sometolerance on the transverse location of the strips 23, one is of coursesuliicient, it being only necessary that for each of the control relaysof the control unit presently to be described there be provided a switchfor actuation by discontinuities in the script sheet.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the control unit includes a plurality of cuecircuit control relays 40, advantageously the contacts of any one of therelays 4G.

one for each of the sets of cueing contacts Sti in the script displayunit of Fig. 5. Each of these relays is controlled in operation by oneof the tubes S. One such combination of a relay 40 and tube S isindicated at the dash-line box 42 in Fig. 4; The embodiment of Figs. 1-3includes six such combinations; the others are omitted from Fig. 4 forclarity. In addition the control unit includes a plurality of outputcircuits, one of which is indicated at the dashed-line box 44. Each ofthe output circuits may be associated via patch cords with Outputcircuits may be provided in the same number as cue circuit controlrelays. `Often however a plurality of such relays are required toprovide the desired form of control for one output circuit, and it maytherefore be sufiicient to provide a smaller number of output circuitsthan control relays. The embodiment of Figs. 1-3 includes four outputcircuits 44.

The power cord 16 of Fig. 3 is indicated in Fig. 4 as connecting throughthe ori-off switch 5 to the primary winding of a transformer 46. Theunit may advantageously be designed for connection of cord 16 to anordinary ll() volt A.C. lighting circuit. Transformer 46 is a step-downtransformer providing across its secondary a voltage suitable forenergization in parallel of the filaments in the switch tubes 8. Inaddition the secondary of transformer 46 energizes a rectifier 48 forthe development of a negative grid bias voltage which maintains theswitch tubes in non-conducting condition except as a cueing signal isapplied to the grids thereof by grounding thereof, as will be presentlyexplained. A iilter condenser 50 is provided to filter the bias voltagedeveloped by rectitier 48.

Plate voltage for the switch tubes is derived from the power circuit ofcord 16 by a second transformer 52. In the embodiment indicated this isa step-up transformer identical with transformer 46 but connected in theopposite direction to develop across its secondary substantially thesame voltage as that of the lighting circuit in the power cord 16. Theisolation thus obtained permits one terminal of the secondary oftransformer 52 to be grounded to chassis 2. rl'he other terminal leadsthrough the normally closed contact 53 of a relay 54 and through thenormally closed contacts of push button release switch to the thermaldelay relay 10 and thence in parallel through each of the circuits 42 toground via the coils 41 of the output circuit control relays 40 and theplate-to-cathode conduction paths of tubes 8.

The coil of time delay relay 10 is connected across the primary oftransformer 46 in order to be energized by closing of the on-oi switch5. Its function is to prevent the application of plate voltage to theswitch tubes until the filaments thereof are properly heated.

The grid circuit of each of the tubes 8 includes resistors and 11 inseries leading to the source of negative bias voltage formed byrectifier 48, and the junction of these two resistors leads to a signalinput terminal in connector 13, e.g. terminal 38. The junction is alsotaken to an alternative signal input terminal at a jack on the terminalboard 4.

The contacts on each of the relays 4@ are arranged in the form of twodouble pole double throw switches, with a common terminal and a normallyopen and a normally closed terminal for each. These terminals arebrought out to jacks on the terminal board, for interconnection viapatch cords with the output circuits and with the power circuit of cord16. In Fig. l there are shown on the board six rectangles 43, eachenclosing the jacks pertaining to one of the relay combinations 42. Thejacks of the relay common terminals are designated C1 and C2, those ofthe normally open terminals N01 and NO2 `and those of the normallyclosed terminals NC, and NC. Each array 43 also includes a jack Gconnecting into the grid circuit of the associated switch tube t5 at thejunction of resistors 9 and 11, and two jacks C+ and C-. .These connectwith opposite ends of the actuating coil 41 of the associated relay 40,across which is connected a capacitor 45 to insure energizatiou of therelay so long as the grid of its associated tube is unbiased, in spiteof the intermittent conduction in that tube due to the A.C. value of theplate voltage applied thereto. Jacks C+ and C- are provided to permitthe insertion of additional capacity in parallel with capacitor 4:3', ifa delayed release of the relay should be desired. iacks G permitunbiasing of the tubes 8 by signals derived otherwise than via cable 19and connector 18.

The board also includes four rectangular arrays 47 of three jacks each,one array for each of the output circuits 44 of Fig. 4. in eachvrectangle 47 a jack F connects, advantageously via a fuse 55 (Fig. 4)to one terminal in an output connector 12. The other jacks A and Mconnect to two poles of one of the. switches 14, whose blade isconnected to the other terminal of the connector 12 in question.Provision of the switches 14 and of the extra jack M makes it possibleto patch around a relay 40 to provide a substitute circuit in the eventof failure of that relay or of its tube 3.

The board is also provided with a series of jacks GR all grounded, withtwo series of jacks P1 and P2 connected to the two sides of the powerline 16, and with one or more groups of jacks T connected together butinsulated from all other elements of the circuit, for convenience inpatching.

With this apparatus one or more auxiliary devices may be arranged to beoperated automatically by signals supplied to the control unit at anydesired phases of a process, such as the passage of a script sheet fromthe supply to the take-up rolls in the device of Fig. 5. The relay S4 ofFig. 4 may be provided to disable the control unit under specifiedconditions, such as rewinding of the script sheet, and the push button15 permits local and temporary disablement of the control unit at thewill of the operator.

The operation of the control unit will now be described by reference toFig. 6 which illustrates the control of a simple cueing function fromthe script display device of Fig. 5. Let it be assumed that a particularpassage in the script on strip 22. an auxiliary light such as a spotlight for example is to be lighted and to be maintained lighted until aspecified subsequent passage is reached. For this purpose a conductingstrip 23 is applied to the script sheet 22 of the display unit of Fig. 5in position to pass under one set of cueing contacts 30 when the firstpassage of text is opposite the reading marker 2.6. When the strip 23passes under its contacts 30, the insulated contact 36 of that set isgrounded. This applies ground potential to the junction of resistors 9and 11 on the relay combination associated with the set of cueingcontacts in question. The signal so generated is cmployed to light thespot light, and a similar signal gener-l ated at another set of contacts30 by the passage of a second strip 23 at an appropriate subsequent timeis used to turn the spot light off.

These signals are utilized by the control unit of Figs. 1-4 with theconnection illustrated in Fig. 6. The spot light to be controlled,indicated at 60, is connected to one of the output connectors 12, andthe jack F of the output circuit 44 to which that connector belongs ispatched to one side of the power line 16 by means of a one-conductorpatch cord 62. The opposite side of the line 16 is patched by means of acord 64 to a common terminal jack C1 of one output circuit controlrelay, selected as the one whose associated switch tube 8 will beunbiased upon short-circuiting of the contacts 30 in the display unit ofFig. 5 by the first strip 23, which is to turn the spot light on. Thejack N01 of that relay is patched by a cord 66 to jack A of the outputcircuit into which spot light 60 is connected. Withinthe control unitjack A is permanently connected to one pole of the switch 14 belongingto this output circuit, and this switch 14 when in a normal or automaticposition connects, again within the control unit, this pole to theterminal of the output connector opposite that which is connected tojack F.

This much provides `for energization of the light 60 when the tirststrip 23 shorts the contacts 30 of Fig. 5 in its path, but without morelight 6i) lwould be extinguished as soon as this strip passed frombeneath those contacts. To provide a holding circuit, jack NO2 oftherrelay actuated `by this first strip 23 is patched by a cord 68 toits jack G, and jack C2 of the same relay is patched -by cord 70 to jackC1 of a second control circuit relay, selected as` the one which will beenergized by the second strip 23 in `the script display unit of Fig. 5intended to turn |the spot light olf. Jack NCl of this second relay ispatched by a cord 72 to ground at a jack GR. Accordingly, when the firstrelay 40 is energized, its jack G is grounded through a normally closedcontact NC1 of the second relay so that the irst relay is heldenergized. When the spot light is to be turned olf, the secondconducting -strip 23 energizes the second relay. This breaks the holdingcircuit between C1 and ground of the second relay, and light 60` isextinguished.

In the event of malfunctioning of the relays or either of them, thelight 60 can-be manually controlled by the switch 14 of the outputcircuit into which the spot light is connected, with the help` of ajumper Afrom jack M of that output circuit to the side of the power line16 opposite that to which jack F is connected. For this reason theswitches 14 may be referred to as automatiomanual switches. They arenormally left in their automatic positions which connect jacks A to theoutput connectors 12.

Obviously the spot light or other auxiliary device can be equally wellenergized from an external source of power, subject to the same controloperations by the unit of Figs. 1-4. In the example illustrated in Fig.6,

by patching cord 64 directly from C1 to F and by inserting a powersource in series with one side of the line leading from connector 12 tothe light 60, such an external power source may be utilized in place ofthe line 16.

While the invention has been described herein in terms of a preferredembodiment, it is not limited to the details of the structure shown anddescribed. The invention itself is set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

A script display and auxiliary circuit control system comprising ascript carrier of laminar form having a script thereon, means to advancethe carrier from supply to take-up means past a display station, aplurality of switches arranged adjacent said station transversely of thedirection of motion of said carrier relative to said station in positionto be actuated individually upon passage thereat of discontinuities insaid carrier occupying positions ranged transversely of said directionof motion, a plurality of grid controlled gas rectifers, means to biassaid rectiers to cut-off, said rectifiers having their cathodesconnected together, a connection between the grid of each of saidrectiers and a separate one of said switches adapted to unbias suchrectifier upon actuation of such switch, a plurality of relays eachhaving its actuating coil in series with the plate-cathode circuit ofone of said rectiliers, each of said relays having two pairs of normallyclosed contacts and two pairs of normally open contacts, one contact ofeach normally closed pair being in common with one contact of eachnormally open pair, a source of alternating current voltage, means toapply an alternating current voltage from said source to the seriescombination of each of said rectiers and associated relay coil, meansconnecting one terminal of said source with one olf the common contactson one of said relays, means connecting the other terminal of saidsource through a load device to the normally open contact associatedwith said one common Contact, means `connecting the other common contactof said one relay to a common contact of another of said relays, meansconnecting the normally open contact of the other normally open contactpair of said one relay to the grid of the grid controlled rectifier inseries with the coil of said one relay, and means connecting thenormally closed contact associated with said common contact of saidother relay to the cathodes of said rectiers.

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